Lewis H Kaminester, MD, FAAD, FACP

I have been a patient of Dr. Kaminester for over a year. I originally visited his practice due to ONE small patch of psoriasis. I now have patches appearing all over my body and I feel that my case has been mismanaged from the beginning. While I understand that there is not a cure for psoriasis, one would hope that regularly visiting the dermatologist and following their prescriptions would help keep under wraps, but it has not. After my last appointment, I decided that I would not be going back and I am currently seeking a new dermatologist. At my last appointment I felt deflated. The doctor does not have a good bedside manner, he does not listen to what you say, he does not seem to care about your symptoms or how you feel. He is condescending. He will cut you off. He will tell you that what you think is something is «nothing at all». He told me that a large red patch on my scalp and others on my body «must be folliculitis or are nothing at all because there is no scaling» and when i explained to him that the scales became soft and fell off after spending time in the water, he stated «water is a drying agent». What??? I understand that he is the doctor, but if you have not had a scaly psoriasis spot on your own head and have not experienced what happens to it EVERY DAY when you shower, perhaps you should listen to your patient and not degrade them with comments that are not helpful. Research says, and even this doctor said, that keeping your stress level low will help keep your psoriasis under control. Why then am I the MOST stressed ever when I leave the dermatologists office? I know EXACTLY how Emmy felt, because after this last appointment, I came to the same realization that she did: I felt that I was being talked down to, like a child being disciplined and I left this appointment slightly traumatized and with no answers. My psoriasis is only worse after over a year of appointments and outdated treatments by a doctor who does not listen, does not help and does not seem to care about his patients. Since my insurance does not cover dermatology appointments, I have paid out of pocket for nothing and my condition is worse. I would warn you to look elsewhere for a dermatologist, as I am.

After years struggling with a rash on my face and visits to multiple dermatologists for answers, I was told that I have a condition called contact dermatitis for which I need to see a specialist. Dr. Kaminester has a portion of his website devoted to the condition and so I was eager to finally get the help I needed. Not only did he cut me off as I tried to list my treatment history, but he also told me that he had a special topical medication for the ailment but would not give it to me. Instead, he would like me to take home information to read. Needless to say, since learning of the condition, all that I have been doing is reading studies and information. He also began citing information that has been proved wrong within the past 5 years. With 2 nurses in the room, I burst into tears out of frustration that I had come to a doctor who not only would not help me, but in fact, was not a specialist of the condition at all. The nurses in the room were extremely empathetic and clearly were upset with the way he had handled things. I felt that I was being talked down to, like a child being disciplined. He then had me go into his office to sit and read an open text book with highlighted passages. I flipped to the front cover only to see that this text book was published in 1994! I have seen many doctors throughout my lifetime but I left this appointment slightly traumatized and with no answers. I don’t normally review doctors but I had to share this